Battlestar Galactica -
I get the impression a lot of people would hear the words Battlestar Galactica, envision their most nerdy TV nightmare, and then run a mile. Yes, its sci-fi at its best, but its more than that. Its a show that deals with many facets of human relationships, of our ethics in those relationships, of our ethics in times of war. It deals a lot with ideas of determinism too, and its got the kind of epic mythological fantasy whimsy that made Star Wars such a success. When they had the budget, it also had the space battles too! The design and the writing is superb. This show is over now, but thats good for you cos it means you can digest the whole thing in one go. Its criminally under-appreciated and it was criminally under-watched. SO SAY WE ALL
Lost -
I don't really know what to say about this. Another epic tale really, about a downed flight on a mysterious island with strange properties and stranger inhabitants. You will either fall in love with the way they handle the mysteries on this show, or it will piss you off incredibly. If its the former, you will find watching and finding out one way or the other was well worth the risk. For my money it has some of the best characters on television, and some of the most gripping moments in serialised television. When one episode ends, you curse the fact that you have to wait another week.
Rome -
Do you like stories of Roman times? Did you like Gladiator? Have you read or seen "I Claudius"? The two seasons of this show are gritty, riveting stuff. Although employing some artistic license with the timeline, it does have a reasonable amount of historical accuracy around certain people/events -- and it really makes beautiful well rounded 3d characters of Caesar, Octavian, Marc Anthony, Lucius Vorenus, Titus Pullo etc. There's nothing like seeing some slave wench get fucked on a table either. Political intrigue, violence, bloodshed, love, war, sex... although the main characters wouldn't have been able to stay on in the timeline of things, I would have liked to have seen the series continue on into the era of Tiberius, Caligula, Nero etc. I really really enjoyed this one.
The Sopranos -
Dripping with dry, black humour yet taking on a sense of hard hitting, dramatic seriousness when necessary -- its a show about family in multiple senses of the word. By the last season you're left lamenting that its coming to an end and that many of the characters you've grown to love are buying it left right and center. I personally thought the ending was a masterstroke of genius too. One of the best shows ever made, the DVDs would give your countless hours of entertainment.
The Wire-
Like I said, I haven't watched it myself yet, but this is the show I am most recommended.
Alias -
There are two prerequisites to watching this show. You must be prepared for some real cheese (in the storylines and at times in the soundtrack), and as well as being up for some Mission Impossible-esque TV, you must also be prepared to engage in the day to day drama of the shows characters. If you can do those things, the show has many enjoyable moments, and quite an enjoyable mythology. Much like JJ Abrams other shows really. Although Sydney Bristow is the shows main character, personally I kept watching this show for Ron Rifkin and Victor Garber. They were absolutely brilliant as the show's main villain and Sydney's father respectively.
Peep show -
Just watch it, its first person comedy. Its hilarious.
Flight of the Conchords -
Ditto, just watch it. Its clever, musical comedy, and its hilarious.
